Capitulation - Arbroath lose their way against 9 men

Last updated : 26 October 2008 By Fargone
A dire sickener second half for the second week running. lousy day for keepers too

Most were surprisec when the game went ahead but the wind was blowig across the pitch so clear advantage. John McG rung the changes with Morrison and Campbell coming in, surprisingly for Hill and Gates.

Arbroath had the btter first half and could have gone in in front. We passed it around well on the ground and made some good openings with McCulloch in the Fife goal pulling off two good saves as well as making two blunders. But East Fife went ahead twice - Cameron after 5 mnutes when a soft high ball swung in after a corner eluded Morrison, slighyyl impded by Weir on the line. But 3 minutes later a good break up the left by Forsyth saw McCullch fumble and McGowan was on the spot to knock it in.

After 36 minutes, a McManus shot from 8 yards seemed to slip pass Morrison. But immediately we ran up the field and Weir was sharp to loft a ball over McCulloch after a sloppy clearance.

Then it went wrong. First Fotheringham was sent off, slightly harshly maybe but he was the last defender, for pulling back McGowan as we was running in on goal. Lichite fans were quite uplifted by the first half

Second half things got worse when Fagan who had had some tussles with Flyer first half seemed to use an elbow so was also shown a straight red. Longsuffering supporters know that Arborath do not do well against numerically inferior teams - so I started to worry at that stage

he rest of the half saw Arbroath trying to exploit their advantage perhaps a bit too methodically. East Fife fileld the gaps in defence and upped a gear and, while they has much possession looked dangerous on odd occasions. By contrast Arbroath had hardly an attempt second half, certainly not one on the East Fife goal

The away fans, who had been in reasonably voice first half, started getting quieter and quieter, with increasing shout to bring on Gates and Scott to inject something new. Both came on late but Scott carved out a few crosses in the short time he was on, showing what was possible.

There was something entirely predictable when East Fife had a nice break up the right, won a freekick with Bishop booked, and Tweed managed to head (?) it in on 86 minutes. Arbroath huffed and puffed for the rest of the half

Fans felt badly perhaps humiliated by the second half showing which was fairly inept. We didn't create enough to try to finish the game off - the cauiton, inlcuding making the subs, is killing us. Shout for the managwers resignation rang around at the end.

This was a chance to relaunch our season and we didnt take the initiative even after we had competed first half.

One to forget








From the Sunday Mail

ARBROATH gaffer John McGlashan blasted his troops as they slipped to a late defeat by nine-man East Fife.

The home side had Kevin Fotheringham and Shaun Fagan sent off either side of the interval with the score at 2-2.

Steven Tweed's dramatic winner sealed it for the Fifers.

McGlashan said: "I told the players not to switch off but we gave away a silly free-kick at the end and didn't pick up."

Dougie Cameron scored for East Fife in five minutes when his wind-assisted corner caught out Scott Morrison but Arbroath levelled after Willie McCulloch spilled a corner and David McGowan scored.

East Fife's Paul McManus scored from a Cameron freekick in 36 minutes but seconds later Steven Weir lobbed McCulloch from 25 yards.

Fotheringham and Fagan were off before Tweed got to a Cameron free-kick five minutes from time for the winner.

Home boss Dave Baikie said: "We battled right to the end."